First Boeing 747-8F in Customer Colors is Unveiled

The first Boeing 747-8 Freighter painted in customer colors emerged before dawn on June 7 from the Boeing widebody-assembly plant’s paint hangar at Everett, Washington, wearing the new livery to be adopted by launch customer Cargolux.

The Luxembourg-based cargo operator has a total of 13 Boeing 747-8 Freighters on order.

Boeing delivered Cargolux’s last 747-400 Freighter with a unique transition paint-scheme featuring fading stripes. The new livery on Cargolux’s 747-8 Freighter is an evolution from the current design and marks the start of a new era for the company, according to Boeing and Cargolux.

“The design stands for continuity and commitment while confirming the fundamental principles that made Cargolux successful. The red, white and blue stripes symbolize the company’s roots in Luxembourg, its hub and home base,” says Ulrich Ogiermann, chief executive officer of Cargolux.

Boeing rolled out the first 747-8 Freighter painted in customer colors before dawn on June 7, 2010. The aircraft is painted in the new livery adopted by Cargolux, the launch customer for the 747-8F

The new livery features a distinctive new red tail and an additional logo on the belly further promotes the brand.

Boeing expects to deliver the first 747-8 Freighter to launch customer Cargolux in the fourth quarter of this year, though Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO Jim Albaugh hinted recently that the planned delivery date could slip.